Book Review: Fields of the Fatherless

Fields of the Fatherless: Discover the Joy of Compassionate Living was written on the premise of the story of Ruth and how she would go into the fields and pick the extra grain for her and Naomi’s meals. Through the story of Ruth in the Bible one reads that Boaz instructs his men to allow extra grain to fall so that Ruth would have more to gather, as the story continues one reads of their romance and how Boaz and Ruth are blessed for their commitment to service.

Tom takes that story and uses it as a spring board to encourage Christians on how to care for the orphan and widow and how it is our responsibility to be mindful and loving to those who have no advocate. Tom also speaks and how the early church recognized the importance and demand to care for the widows of their time and how they became proactive in an organized fashion by delegating the responsibility to mature Spirit filled elders. While reading this book one learns that the widow and the orphan are two groups of people are easily ignored, judged, and very little advocacy is done for them especially in this day in age when advocacy and representation is essential for respect and care in the larger society.

Tom speaks of proactive ways that Christians can get involved such as: sponsoring a child in a developing country, being deliberate with one’s purchases of fair trade products to assist in eliminating exploitation, becoming aware and helpful to the homeless, and also explore adoption for a child from another country. To take a quote from the book “ A good friend of mine once asked me, If the fields are white for harvest, why do we spend all of our money painting the barn?" (pg. 36) From the Old Testament to the New Testament God instructs that those who need the most care and provision receive care and provision from the community around them and he even reminds the Isrealistes at the time in Deut. 24: 22 “ Remember that you were slaves in the land of Egypt. That is why I am giving you this command.” Tom Davis believes that we must keep at the forefront of our mind that we were once slaves to sin and despair and we must deliver the joy and forgiveness of God love to those less fortunate then us through our action, advocacy, and words of truth.

The only critique that I have with the two books (Red Letters and Fields of the Fatherless) is that Tom Davis speaks of our actions being global and far reaching. While I completely agree with his conviction to help those in countries that are less fortunate or in the midst of conflict, I believe that the local community is just as important. Just because one lives in America does not mean that he or she is suffering any less then one is in another country. We must step out into our neighborhoods to be deliberate, loving, and care for their needs in a real tangible way regardless of whether they are 5 minutes, 5 hours, or 5 days away we as Christians must take responsibility for all twho are suffering.

On our most recent vacation I asked Sarah if she would like to read two of Tom Davis’s books, Red Letters:Living A Faith That Bleeds and Fields of the Fatherless: Discover the Joy of Compassionate Living.  On vacation, we were also able to sample some of the delightful organic, fair-trade coffee from Saint’s Coffee
that will help support Davis’s ministry to orphans. If you like your
coffee super-strong and black like Sarah and I do, go with the Saint
George the Dragonslayer blend.